Duquette Has Job; Now Comes the Hard Part

By RAFAEL HERMOSO

Published: October 29, 2003

Jim Duquette smiled. He joked. He told stories, including one about his mother. When Fred Wilpon, the Mets' principal owner, called to tell her he was removing the interim tag from Duquette's role as general manager, she thought it was a prank.

Duquette, who signed a three-year contract with an option for a fourth, was introduced yesterday in a back room at Shea Stadium. The announcement was loaded with the kind of optimistic moments that the Mets have filled off-seasons with for two years.

Now comes the hard part. Given the final say in player moves, Duquette must try to transform the team, which has finished last in the National League East the past two seasons, into a playoff contender in 2004. That is Wilpon's mandate.

Wilpon often mentioned the World Series champion Florida Marlins and the National League runner-up Chicago Cubs as proof that a losing team can quickly become a contender. But the Mets' roster is full of holes and their payroll will be limited because of their free-spending ways in the past.

"I think we're going to consider all of them," Duquette said of the free agents available. "I think in terms of the number of holes we have to fill, I'm concerned about the price tag right now."

Wilpon has said the payroll would most likely be less than $100 million next year. The Mets' current contracts, many with no-trade clauses, make up about $61 million. That figure includes only $4.25 million to Mo Vaughn, who is on the disabled list. If, as expected, he does not return from the knee injury that cost him most of this season, insurance will pick up the other 75 percent of the $17 million remaining on his deal.

The Mets need a second baseman, an outfielder, a starting pitcher and a closer. Wilpon and Duquette agreed that rather than spending big on one free agent, it would make more sense to plug several holes with more modest acquisitions.

Wilpon would not discuss Guerrero by name, but he noted that a team would be unable to get insurance on a certain free agent with a history of back trouble.

The Mets may pursue players like Luis Castillo, the free-agent second baseman from the Marlins, who delivered a key hit in the final game of the World Series, and Mike Cameron, the superb-fielding free-agent center fielder from the Seattle Mariners.

Castillo and Cameron would fit with the Mets' plan to focus on pitching, defense and young athletic players to take advantage of Shea's generous dimensions.

Moving Mike Piazza from behind the plate would improve the defense, but the team's desire to have him play part time at first base next season was an effort to keep his bat in the lineup.

The Mets plan to sit down with Piazza and gauge whether he remains interested in learning the new position.

One option the Mets apparently do not want to consider is shifting shortstop José Reyes to second base. That would eliminate Matsui as a possibility. Although he has delayed his decision about playing in the United States until the Asian Olympic qualifying tournament ends Nov. 7, Matsui was quoted yesterday by The Daily Yomiuri as saying, "I actually can't imagine myself playing anywhere else" but shortstop.

"I hate to say no to anything just because we have so many holes to fill," Duquette said, "but it would be very difficult to move José the way he's playing. He's a guy that we feel we need to build around for the future."

One player would force the Mets to move Reyes to second: Texas shortstop Alex Rodriguez. The Mets have heard from other teams, not the Rangers, that he may be shopped around. One big hitch: Texas would most likely want Reyes in return, and the Mets consider him untouchable.

The Mets may have to compromise on starting pitching, too. Duquette said that he would pursue a No. 1 starter if the price was reasonable, but that he might have to pursue other options.

Duquette plans to hire two advisers. He has asked for permission to speak with Ron Schueler, a Cubs adviser, and Fred Ferreira, director of the Marlins' international operations. The advisers will report to Duquette as they try to maneuver in baseball's changing landscape.

Duquette, who replaced Steve Phillips in June, traded several of the Mets' high-priced players in July. With Roberto Alomar, Jeromy Burnitz and Armando Benitez gone, Duquette does not have much left to bargain with. He said the free-agent and nontender (players who are not offered contracts by their teams) markets were the most likely avenues to plug holes.

At 37, Duquette became baseball's third youngest general manager, behind Boston's Theo Epstein and the Yankees' Brian Cashman. Epstein's and Cashman's teams went deep into the postseason. But Duquette is starting with less, and his job will be harder.

INSIDE PITCH

FRED WILPON, the principal owner, said the Mets are considering changing their tiered-ticket pricing to reflect the day of the week instead of the opponent. . . . The Class AA reliever ROYCE RING was named to the United States team for this week's Olympic qualifying tournament in Panama.